Alberta Liberal MLA Dr. David Swann and Liberal Leader David Khan are calling on the NDP Government to strengthen pesticide use regulations, monitoring, enforcement and public accountability.

There has been more than a 60% increase in pesticide use in Alberta over a 10-year period ending in 2013, according to data from Alberta Environment. This rising trend is concerning to some Albertans. More alarming is the NDP Government’s lack of enforcement and accountability on pesticide use.

Sheryl McCumsey, Coordinator, Pesticide Free Alberta, stated, “Compliance officers with Alberta Environment are not properly monitoring pesticide applications. Nor are they fully investigating public complaints of clear violations that place Albertans and the environment at risk. We have expressed our concerns in meetings with Alberta Environment but it produced no results. That must change. Albertans deserve answers.”

David Khan stated, “We strongly urge the NDP Government to launch an independent investigation of the current Alberta government system of monitoring and enforcement of pesticide applications, especially in public places. Alberta Liberals are also pushing for immediate action by Alberta Environment to improve transparency in the public complaint process. Albertans deserve to be fully protected from the misuse of pesticides.”

David Swann stated, “We should be using less pesticides, not more. There are numerous studies that demonstrate a link between some pesticides and their harmful effect on human health. Furthermore, the lack of comprehensive provincial regulations and full enforcement may be exposing Albertans to potential risk. There must be robust, consistent public policies that increase and improve safeguards.”

MEDIA AVAILABILITY:

10:30 am, Monday, November 19, 2018

Legislature Media Room

Dr. Swann, David Khan and Sheryl McCumsey will attend the news conference on Monday. They will be joined by a group of concerned Albertans including biologists and health professionals.

Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan and Liberal MLA Dr David Swann will host an expert panel to discuss Drug Decriminalization – Help Not Handcuffs..

Two Albertans are dying every day from drug overdoses. Alberta Liberals have constructive suggestions to better manage the Opioid Crisis. We urge the NDP Government to work with the Federal Government to Decriminalize Drugs. ,

Khan stated, “It is time we treat addicts as people with a horrible disease. They are sick. They are not criminals. Decriminalization of drugs is an essential part of reducing stigma and improving their chances of healing.”

Dr Swann stated, “We must remove the stigma of drug use and provide hope. We must also address the financial impact of this crisis. Canada spent $550M in 2017 on recurrent hospital visits, policing, court proceedings, and incarceration. Decriminalization will lead those with addictions and devastating mental illness to help and recovery – not thrown into jail.”

The issue will be fully discussed by panelists on all sides of this issue including medical clinicians, harm reduction advocates, a former drug user turned health advocate and those who lost loved ones to opioids.
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WHERE: O’Brien Institute for Public Health
HSC Room G500 – 3330 Hospital Dr NW.

Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan and MLA Dr. David Swann are calling on the NDP Health Minister to enforce a patient’s right to medically assisted dying at Alberta’s religious-based health facilities.

Covenant Health facilities are refusing to allow medically assisted deaths on their premises, according to media reports. They are also blocking patients from receiving medical assessments. They will not even allow them to fill out paperwork at their facilities. This is shameful. This is also illegal.

Swann stated, “These patients have a constitutionally-guaranteed right to humane medically assisted death.

“It is unreasonable to force vulnerable and very ill Albertans to undergo physician assessments at other facilities. It is shocking that they are being forced to undergo those assessments or fill out forms on the sidewalk and at bus stops. Alberta Liberals insist this practice end immediately.””

Khan stated, “Patients have rights. Why is this NDP Government not defending them? These are public facilities using public funding. They must not be allowed to circumvent the law because of their ties to the Catholic Church. The NDP Health Minister must protect patients’ rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

Alberta Liberals are calling for the law to be enforced. We stand with these vulnerable Albertans. They deserve to die with dignity.

Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan and MLA David Swann are demanding answers from the NDP Government on an estimated quarter of a trillion dollars in total oil and gas liabilities.

It could cost up to $260 billion to clean up the Alberta Oil Patch according to FOIP documents based on comments by a senior official with Alberta Environment Regulator (AER).

Khan stated, “That numbers are utterly shocking. It’s more than 16 times greater than the $1.6 billion in liability payments collected from energy companies. It’s more than 4 times greater than the $58 billion cleanup costs publicly estimated by the NDP Government. It’s almost 3 times greater than the $93 billion in projected total debt for Alberta.

“Alberta Liberals have demanded greater transparency on these liability numbers. We tried to boost accountability by suggesting an amendment to Government Motion XX during the spring session of the Legislature. The NDP turned us down.”

Swann stated, “We now know why the NDP rejected our amendment. They were trying to hide these disastrous figures from the public. It’s clear the NDP are not being honest with Albertans. The NDP are not living up to their fiscal or environmental responsibilities to this province.

“The Government must make all this information fully public including how these costs were calculated. Alberta Liberals demand there be safeguards for the environment and protection for Alberta taxpayers.

The NDP have criticized previous governments for not addressing the industry’s cleanup responsibilities. But, after 3 ½ years in office the NDP Government has not made any progress. Clearly, they are also kicking the can down the road.

Albertans should not be learning about these staggering liabilities from a FOIP search. The NDP Government must stop hiding this important information. Albertans deserve the truth.